Waste-valve device for bathtubs, etc.



Dec. 3, 1929. E. M. REEDY 1,737,804

WASTE VALVE DEVICE FOR BATHTUBS, ETC

Filed Sept. 22, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIf! EmmeZiMReed attozmqo.

Dec. 3, 1929. E. M. REEDY 1,737,804

WASTE VALVE DEVICE FOR BATHTUBS, ETC

Filed Sept. 22. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED sures PATENT OFFICE MET! I. BEEDY, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MUELLER 00., OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIfi WASTE-VALVE DEVICE FOR BATHTUBB, ETC.

Application filed September 22, 1928. Serial no. 807,709.

The present invention relates to improvements in bath tubs or similar plumbing fixtures having drain and overflow outlets, and particularl to means for actuating the valve provided or controlling flow through the drain outlet.

Among the objects of the lnvention, are the provision of a simple mechanism, which may be readily installed or removed for repair, if necessary, and WlllCl'l Wlll interfere to a minimum degree with flow of water through the branches connecting the drain and overflow outlets with the Waste plpe.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts that will be more articularly described in connection with tl e accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of a bath tub or similar plumblng fixture having an embodiment of the present invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is an elevation and partlal section, substantially on the line 2--2 ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section, on an enlarged scale, substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical section through the drain outlet valve.

Figure 6 is a perspective of the drain out let valve, shown in Figures 1 to 5, detached.

Fi ure 7 is a perspective of a slightly modified orm of drain outlet valve.

Referrin to the drawings, in the several views of w ich like parts are designated by corresponding reference characters, 1 designates a bath tub or similar plumbing fixture which, as usual, is provided with drain and overflow outlets, that are respectively connected with a waste pipe 2 by branches 4, 5.

Commonly, as shown, the pipes leading from the drain and overflow outlets are connected together, and to the waste pipe 2, by a T-coupling 6.

A suitable valve seat 7 is secured within the drain outlet of the fixture 1, and flow of water through such outlet is controlled by a 60 valve cooperating with said seat.

Preferably, the drain outlet valve'8 is normally closed, and suitable means are provided for lifting the same from its seat when water is to flow through said outlet into the branch pipe 4 and to the waste pipe 2.

As shown, the means for thus raising the valve 8, include members mounted within the branches of the waste pipe, and adapted to be actuated by a handle 10 mounted on a shaft 11, which extends through the overflow outlet of the fixture 1.

As shown, the shaft 11 is mounted in a bearing 12 formed integral with a grating or apertured cover plate 13, that is suitably secured over the overflow opening in the wall of the fixture 1, and on the end of said shaft within the connection or fitting 14 interposed between the branch waste pipe 5 and the overflow opening is secured an arm 15. This arm is, in turn, connected to a rod 16 which extends downward through the waste pipe branch 5, and has at its lower end an enlargement or foot 16*. The foot 16 is detachably connected, as by a set-screw 17, with the rod 16, and is of such form that its lower end will have (substantially diametrically opposite) points spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the diameter of the pipe 5, so that the rod 16 will be maintained substantially centrally within the tube when the rod is reciprocated, as hereinafter described.

The foot 16 is of such form that it will not materially interfere, with the free flow of water from the overflow opening in the fixture 1 to the waste pipe 2.

The length of the rod 16 is such that when the parts are in the relative position shown in Figure 1, the lower face of the foot 16 will be above or merely in contact with the upper end of a lever 20 mounted in the branch of the waste pipe leading from the drain outlet.

The lever 20 referred to, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, is formed of three sections pivotally connected, so that 'while they will form a rigid member when pressure is applied to the lever in one direction, they can be adjusted angularly relative to each other to permit of the lever being bodily withdrawn from the pipe 4 through the drain outlet of the fixture 1, when the valve 8 has 100 been removed, as hereinafter described. The lever 20 is of such length that one end thereof projects into the waste dpipe coupling 6 while the opposite end exten s eneath the valve 8, and to this latter end is connected a pin 21, which extends u ward into a suitable socket formed in the b0 y of the drain outlet valve 8. The lever 20 is provided at suitable points in its length with laterally projecting fulcrum lugs 22, which engage diametrically opposite bearings formed in the connection. between the branch waste pipe 4 and the fixture 1. As shown, such fulcrum bearings areformed integral with the fitting, and each includes an inclined surface 23 extending downward from the bearing proper toward the drain outlet.

When the lever 20 is being inserted in the tube 4, the fulcrum lugs 22 will ride up the inclined surfaces 23 and be thereby guided into the bearings provided therefor, such movement of the lever I being positlvely checked by the upturned members 24.

As previously described, the valve 8 1s, by gravity, normally held in its closed position and, as shown in Figure 1, under such circumstances, the rod 16 and the parts connected thereto do not exert any appreciable pressure on the lever 20. As shown in Figure 2, when the rod 16 is in the elevated position shown in Figure 1, the arm 15 of the shaft 11 is slightly inclined out of parallelism with the vertical axis of the pipe 5, and bears against a lug 30, which positively limits movement of the shaft 11 in one direction.

When it is desired to actuate the lever 20 and lift the valve 8 from its seat, the shaft 11 is turned in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2, by means of the handle 10. This effects a downward movement of the rod 16 and, through the foot 16, a positive push on the end of the lever 20, which is within the coupling 6. This rocks the lever 20 about its fulcrum, and positively raises the valve 8 from its seat.

The valve 8 is not connected with the lever other than by the pin and socket connection before described. In order, however, that the valve may not be readily detached by unauthorized parties, means are preferably provided for effecting a connection between the valve and the valve seat within the drain outlet which will require special manipulation to remove the valve bodily from the seat and the lever pin 21.

As shown in Figures 1, 5 and 6, the valve 8 is provided with a depending skirt having a slot 8 formed therein and opening through its lower edge. Said slot communicates at its upper end with a lateral enlargement 8", into which extends a pin or stud 40 projecting from the annular wall of the valve seat. It will be seen that the valve ma be readily positioned on the lever pin 21 y a downward movement when held so that the stud 40 will pass into the slot 8*,

the stud 40 will not interfere with vertical movement of the valve under the action of the lever 20, necessary to open the drain outlet or downward movement by gravity to close the outlet, but will prevent the valve being separated from the pin 21 by merely pulling up on it. y

Various other means for connecting the valve and lever may be provided and, if preferred, a form of valve such as shown in Figure 7, in which there is no means of connection between the valve and seat or between the valve and lever, except the stud 21 loosely fitted within the socket in the valve body, may be employed. Y

The operation of the improvements will it is believed be readily understood from the foregoing and the drawings, but may be briefly recapitulated as follows:

Normally, the valve 8 will close the drain outlet opening; By turning the shaft 11 in the direction of the arrow (Figure 2) a direct push will be effected on the lever 20, whereby the valve will be lifted from its seat. Such movement of the shaft 11 is limited by contact of the arm 15 with a second lug or abutment, 31, within the fitting connecting the branch waste pipe 5 with the overflow opening. When the arm 15 is thus in contact with the lug or abutment 31 it will be slightly out of parallelism with the rod and parts will thus be retained in position to maintain the drain outlet valve elevated when the handle 10 is released.

By moving the handle and shaft in the reverse position the rod 16 will be moved upward and the valve 8 will be moved to closed position by gravity. Such movement of the rod is limited by contact of the arm 15 with abutment lug 30 and the parts will be retained in the position shown in Figure 1.

If it should be necessary to withdraw the lever 20, for the purpose of cleaning the branchwaste pipe in which it is arranged, this can be readily accomplished by first removing the valve 8 and then pulling upward on the valve guiding pin 21.

In some instances it may also be desirable to withdraw the actuating rod 16, and this can be effected by detaching the handle 10 and removing the plate carrying the shaft bearing 12. The rod 16, while sufficiently rigid to manipulate the valve lever 20, as hereinbefore described, is flexible enough to permit it to be drawn out' through the overflow outlet when the cover plate for that opening has been removed.

I claim:

1. The combination with a bath tub or similar plumbing fixture provided with drain and overflow outlets, of a waste pipe having connections with both said outlets, a valve controlling flow through and normally closing the drain outlet, a lever extending longitudinally of the branch of the waste pipe leading from the drain outlet and adapted to lift the valve to open the drain outlet, said lever having laterally projecting fulcrum lugs engaging oppositely positioned bearings within said pipe, a shaft, extending through the overflow outlet, an arm connected to said shaft within the connection between the'overflow outlet and the waste pipe, and a rod within the branch of the waste pipe leading from the overflow outlet and having one end connected to said arm and provided at its other end with a foot adapted to rock said lever to raise the drain outlet valve when said shaft is turned in one direction.

2. The combination with a bath tub or similar plumbing fixture provided with drain and overflow outlets, of a waste pipe having connections with both said outlets, a valve controlling flow through the drain outlet, the branch of the waste pipe leading from the drain outlet being interiorly provided with diametrically opposite bearing lugs, a lever of said branch of extending longitudinally the waste pipe with one end beneath the drain valve, said lever having laterally projecting fulcrum lugs resting on the said bearing lugs, a shaft extending through the overflow outlet, an arm on said shaft within the connection between the overflow outlet and the waste pipe, and a rod within the branch of the waste pipe leading from the overflow outlet and having one end connected with said arm and provided at its otherend with means for rocking said lever when said shaft is turned in one direction. I

3. The combination with a bath tub or similar plumbing fixture provided with drain and overflow outlets, of a waste pipe having connections with both said outlets, a valve controlling flow through the drain outlet, the branch of the waste pipe leading from the drain outlet being interiorly. provided with diametrically opposite bearing lugs, the walls of such lugs adjacent the drain outlet being inclined downward toward such outlet, a lever extending longitudinally of said branch of the waste pipe with one end beneath the drain valve, said lever having laterally projecting fulcrum lugs resting on the said bearing lugs, a shaft extending through the overflow outlet, an arm on said shaft within the connection between the overflow outlet and the waste p pe, and a rod within the branch of the waste pipe leading from the overflow outlet and iaving one end connected with said arm and provided at its other end with means for rocking said lever when said shaft is turned- I in one direction.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EMMETT M. REEDY. 

